Glendora Montandon Hill, organized the historical society

Councilwoman in El Lago and civic volunteer

Published 6:30 am, Sunday, January 27, 2008

Glendora Montandon Hill was chosen by her peers to serve as mayor pro tem.

Glendora Montandon Hill was chosen by her peers to serve as mayor pro tem.

Photo: HANDOUT PHOTO

Glendora Montandon Hill, organized the historical society

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GlendoraMontandon Hill — known for helping preserve the history of the Clear Lake-area community of El Lago, serving on its City Council and organizing and celebrating its July 4 celebration dressed as Betsy Ross — has died. She was 84.

Because of her long civic involvement in the community, it came as no surprise that Hill was asked to fill an unexpired term on the City Council in December 1999 when a vacancy popped up.

Subsequently re-elected, Hill served on the City Council until her death on Jan. 17. She had been chosen by her City Council peers to serve as mayor pro tem to fill in whenever Mayor Brad Emil was away.

"Glendora was a very caring person and very unique," said Jean Raffetto, former city secretary of the city of El Lago and a friend of Hill's. "She was a beautiful woman who had a real flair about her. She was a wonderful friend to many, and I feel very fortunate to be counted among them. We will not forget her."

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Glendora Hill met her future husband,
Charles Hill
, while both worked at Monsanto Chemical Co. in Texas City, she as a receptionist and he as a chemical engineer. The two were married for 45 years. At Monsanto, she was awarded the company's Good Ambassador Award as Outstanding Civic Volunteer.

Glendora Hill continued her volunteer work after taking early retirement from Monsanto. In 1986, former Mayor William E. McElwain asked her to organize the El Lago Historical Society after the City Council approved a resolution authorizing it.

"Glendora was very appreciative of Mayor McElwain's asking her to take on the historical society project and thrived on it," Raffetto said.

Dressed as Betsy Ross

Hill and her husband also were involved with the
Galveston Historical Society
, Raffetto said. They helped with the group's home tour and dressed in Victorian costumes for the annual Dickens on the Strand celebration. Hill also wore Victorian garb to El Lago's Candles in the Park, an annual Christmas event that she organized.

Hill also started and organized El Lago's annual Easter Egg Hunt and its Fourth of July party, which continue to be popular events in the bedroom community. She often showed up at the Fourth of July party dressed as Betsy Ross, while her husband came as Uncle Sam.

El Lago Councilwoman K. Natalie Ong described Hill as a true Southern belle who was always impeccably dressed and was known for wearing colorful scarfs.

Hill, she said, interviewed numerous residents to collect oral histories and had been saving mementos and newspaper clippings about El Lago.

Hill was preceded in death by her husband; brother Carlos; and sister Nina. She is survived by her brother, Charles Montandon of Houston; sisters Faye Antrim and Pat Montandon, both of California; and brother James Montandon, of Utah; and numerous nieces and nephews.